The Plunder, the Blunder, and the Agony

[Chimaera]

Situation update, November 27th, 1943

Burma
After many, many months of mutual glowering across the Irrawaddy River, Allied troops launched a strong attack southwest of Mandalay on November 23rd. Our forces were well prepared for such an offensive, and the enemy was met with a curtain of fire as they struggled to get across the river.

General Kawabe (Burma theater commander) issued a brief communiqué from his headquarters, stating his own losses as 2,211 troops, 58 guns and 4 vehicles. Enemy casualties were considerably heavier – 12,372 men, 223 guns and 77 vehicles. The general also expressed his ‘utmost confidence’ that further enemy attacks would be similarly dealt with.

Nauru Island
A large transport TF (five destroyers, several patrol craft and numbers of AP and AK ships, commanded by Admiral Shoji Nishimura) bringing troops and supplies to Nauru was attacked twice by the enemy, first on Nov 23rd (with PT boats) and two days later by a small destroyer TF.

In the first attack, our destroyers sank 3 PT boats for no loss. In the second attack, totally excellent marksmenship soon took out enemy destroyers Dent and Crosby. DD Talbot was also critically hit, sinking shortly thereafter. Our forces suffered no losses, although DD Hatakaze did take light damage.

[Cathartes]

November 1943 comes to an end and still, Japanese High Command is afraid [:'(] to bring out their carriers. We have yet to see a carrier battle, though we came very close near the Kuriles several months ago.

Yes, the action is heating up in Burma, but with about 10 IJN Divisions, 6-8 Tank Brigades, a horde of Naval Guards, SNLFS, artillery and the kitchen sink, it's looking more and more like a stalemate. It would be a VERY good idea if Chimaera-san launched an attack toward Mandalay to help break the stalemate.

The air war is heating up in Burma as well, but only when the weather allows. This was a rare, positive outcome for the Allies the last week of November 1943:

[Cathartes]

Chimaera and I have hit something of a milestone: we've eclipsed 1944. I didn't expect we would get here, simply because real life has a way of interrupting in the interminable plod of WITP. Yet we have both persisted and enjoyed. A virtual handshake and slap on the back to my worthy opponent!

Ok, enough of the nice crap, it's time for an update. [;)]

The single most interesting dimension of this game compared to others I see out there is the nearly complete lack of naval action. Chimaera-san has played a conservative defense, and I've played a conservative offensive. This has been a ground and air war for the most part. Not a single major capital ship has been sunk for either side! This streak certainly can't last another year.

Here's the overall strategic map. The dots are bases at the boundaries of dominance, the yellow highlights show major areas of action in recent months, and the yellow arrows show the general axis of advance. I'll show more detail in various theaters, and an overall point synoposis in succeeding posts.

[Cathartes]

Here are the overall points and stats as of January 3, 1944. Again, this is CHS, PDU on. Seems to me low losses all around for a game at this juncture. A hard road ahead!

[Cathartes]

Situation Report: Kuriles, North Pacific
Early January 1944

Not much happening here lately. It's winter and the weather is more atrocious than usual. I secured the Kuriles in late August, and we are biding our time, eating salmon, waiting for spring when we will launch a massive invasion of Japan [:'(]. Suicide transports pass by here from time to time. Some Allied and some Japanese, heading toward the great culling ground where we obediently avoid the disappearing pilot bug.

[Cathartes]

Situation Report: New Caledonia and New Hebrides
Late January 1944

The Allies have retaken New Caledonia and are now focusing some real air power against Luganville. Chimaera-san had a nice defense in Noumea, but I was able to take the back door via undefended La Foa. The axis of attack came from Auckland. After La Foa fell, the base was quickly built up and our troops methodically took Noumea and Koumac (with a few base forces and naval guard units in each). After Noumea was secure we made an easy paratroop drop on undefended Efate. Overall this was a confidence-building series of invasions for our boys since the Japanese Navy refused to come out and play. Without an enemy navy to cause problems, minelayers could do their work, and US troop buildup could occur at a leisurely pace. Now USAAF Navy pilots have a happy training ground over Luganville for target practice. At least a dozen Japanese units are trapped on the island. Despite that fact that the base is nearly wrecked, the Japanese manage to post a few recon/search aircraft on the island.

So where is the Japanese Navy? I know but I'm not telling, Chimaera-san is reading. [:'(] They are everywhere the US Navy isn't. Here we are, the end of January 1944, and we have yet to see a carrier battle!

[Cathartes]

Dispatch Luganville: February 8, 1944

The Japanese defenders have been driven from Luganville, and the last Japanese bastion in the New Hebrides falls. The defenders are bombarded from air and ground. They are surrounded and out of supply, but they refuse to surrender. Chimaera-san says his boys want to stay and fish, but he has not asked for my permission, and they have not purchased a fishing license.

Mop-up is in progress. Our updates now turn to Burma and beyond.

[Cathartes]

In late 1943 in CHS, the Allies get a decent amount of troops, ships, and aircraft in the SE Asian theater to exert substantial pressure on the Japanese. I would have used them sooner except that Chimaera-san had built up a massive army in Burma stretching from Rangoon to the hex south of the Irrawaddy river.

Tensions and troops had been building in Burma for nearly two years. It was only a matter of time before a spark would ignite a powderkeg of animosity. Even though we have a house rule not to shoot dolphins, yet again Japanese troops have flaunted this rule and have been shooting innocent dolphins in the Irrawaddy River. The Allies, outraged by these war crimes, could no longer take it.

Another victim from the Irrawaddy (the outrage!) :

[Cathartes]

Henceforth the Allies launched Operation Irrawaddy Dolphin, a three-pronged operation. Yes, not one, not two, but THREE prongs! [:'(]

Since Chimaera-san pulled out of Taung Gyi several months ago, the Chinese and Brits snuck in and built up a level 4 base and fortifications. The Japanse responded by moving back in, thwarting any Allied movement to Meiktila. Regular bombardments began by the end of October 1943. Two Japanese divisions, a mixed brigade, tank and artillery units fell into the Taung Gyi sinkhole. A protracted stalemate ensued.

Meanwhile the Allies built up AV in Mandalay preparing for a crossing of the Irrawaddy and an assault toward Rangoon. Chimaera-san was stubborn about giving up ANY ground past Mandalay, and he had at about 9 IJA divisions, some tank brigades, artillery and miscellaneous infantry. Crossing to the infamous hex 33,30 required some Allied blood, but the Dolphins had to be saved!

Moving beyond 33,30 required a diversion and distraction for Japanese forces...

The ace up the sleeve was the Indian paratroop regiment preparing for just this occasion. The regiment dropped on Magwe unopposed on December 18, 1943 and it was followed by a massive Allied troop/supply airlift from Chittagong. This created a bit of a chain reaction in the Japanese defense, and they moved quickly to plug a whole in an artery that led to Rangoon.

Irrawaddy Dolphin was underway, and our friendly aquatic mammals were safe for now!

And as for the rest of Burma? Things only got more interesting.

[Cathartes]

Dispatch Magwe: December, 1943
A delayed message was just delivered to SEAC HQ:  Japanese forces have counterattacked at Magwe, but Gurkhas and British troops, fighting side by side, have prevailed in their defense. Japanese forces are pummelled by Allied aircraft for days before and during the assault. The enemy suffers considerable disruption and this signficantly hampers their offensive capability. HQ in Magwe reports that Allied aircraft enjoy complete air superiority in the region.

More Japanese troops are arriving in Magwe, and the Allies rush supplies and troops into the city. Meanwhile a significant Allied invasion is about to show up off the coast of Rangoon and Moulmein. At worst this will force an orderly withdrawl of Japanese forces in the north. At best it has the potential to cut off the entire Japanese army in Burma. (see briefing map in previous post)

[Cathartes]

Roosevelt and Churchill are eager for a report on Irrawaddy Dolphin. Lord Mountbatten has been called to give a highlighted overview of the situation:

A.A large invasion TF with RN CVs appears off the coast of Rangoon and successfully lands 2 Chindit brigades and 3 armored rgts. Japanese forces rush from the front lines to the north and reinforce Rangoon. The invasion force in Rangoon is well-supplied, but ultimately outnumbered. They hold out for a week in early January 1944, forcing a withdrawal of Japanese forces from the front lines around Meiktila. Ships return to Rangoon and evacuate the Allied forces before they are destroyed. One armored brigade is ultimately lost. Of equal significance is the massive air battle that ensues over many days. RN CVs, heavily defended with USAAF P-38Js repulse repeated Japanese attacks. Roughly 350 Japanese aircraft are shot down over the course of a week. A RN BB and CA are hit by torpedoes but manage to escape with light damage.

B.Japanese forces attempt to take back Magwe, but before they can mount a larger counterattack, they beat it toward Rangoon. Meanwhile, more Allied troops are airlifted into Magwe. They pursue the Japanese troops a short distance toward Meiktila and then backtrack, taking the westernmost road toward Rangoon. These troops ultimately liberate Rangoon with minimal Japanese resistance remaining.

C.Over 120,000 Allied troops and over 1,000 tanks push toward Meiktila and then move toward Rangoon. The invasion of Rangoon significantly weakens Japanese resistance around Meiktila and several deliberate attacks send Japanese troops (including 4 IJA divisions) reeling south. The Japanese manage to escape across the Salween River to Moulmein before more damage can be done. Allied losses are astonishingly light except for the one US provisional armored regiment lost in Rangoon. Over the course of January 1944, the entire Japanese defense of Burma collapses into Moulmein and Rangoon is fully occupied by the beginning of February.

D. Roughly 14 IJA units are temporarily cut off in Taung Gyi before units from Pisanaluke travel north and establish a supply link. Ultimately the units are forced to retreat south, but not before their supply was established. Two IJA divisions escape with several other artillery and tank units.

The invasion of Rangoon decoupled the defense of Burma. It was risky, but only possible at all because the Japanese decided, some time ago, to give up any and all air resistance in Burma.

What of the Japanese Navy? Chimaera-san is cunning, I expect they will make an appearance soon, plotting some form of calculated revenge. [;)]

[Chimaera]

Situation update, February 13th, 1944

Burma/Andaman Sea
As my esteemed opponent has highlighted, January 1944 was a generally successful month for Allied fortunes in theater. Despite valiant efforts by our fighting men in the air and on the ground, we were not able to prevent the fall of Rangoon (on Jan 31st). There were a few bright notes however. On Jan 3rd, our Bettys managed to sink six cargo ships and damage several more. Three days later, our bombers managed to hit BB Warspite and CA Devonshire with two torpedoes apiece. Both ships were heavily damaged but unfortunately did not sink. Light cruisers Glasgow and Newcastle also took one tin fish each. Other attempts to strike at enemy shipping were not as successful, and air losses were extremely heavy on both sides.

Throughout late November and into December 1943, Admiral Cathartes launched powerful attacks farther north in Burma (armored superiority was particularly evident); he soon followed up with an ambitious landing at Rangoon on Dec 31st of three infantry brigades and three US tank battalions. This compelled General Kawabe to order significant forces south, away from the main front. I had hoped to collapse the Allies at Rangoon while leaving sufficient troops farther north to check the offensive there. Unfortunately, this did not happen. Japanese arms managed to inflict heavy losses at Rangoon and forced the surrender of the 5th US Provisional Tank Battalion, but Admiral Cathartes managed to ‘Dunkirk’ the other units. Nor were our reduced forces in the north able to hold the Allies at bay. On Jan 28th, General Kawabe gave the order for all forces in southwestern Burma to cross the Salween River into Moulmein. News correspondents accompanying the troops to Moulmein noted that the withdrawal was conducted in a disciplined, orderly manner. There were few suicides, and not much jeering and hissing either.

Buoyed by the victory in Burma, Admiral Cathartes next set his sights on Port Blair, which was undefended and fell on Feb 10th. Over the next couple days, dozens of Allied transports arrived there to unload fresh troops and supplies. The enemy transports were supported by a strong force of British carriers operating off Port Blair. Despite the obvious risks, Captain H. Sasaki led a force of light cruisers and destroyers in a night raid against enemy shipping there. The transports were but lightly screened by a motley collection of ships. Six minesweepers, two sub chasers and two patrol craft were sunk before attacks commenced on the transports. Four cargo ships were accounted for before Sasaki gave the order to withdraw (so as to avoid enemy carrier strikes the following morning).

[yubari]

Wow, a great battle in Burma, and a great victory Admiral Cathartes. I was surprised to see such a powerful Japanese army defeated in land combat however, what level of fortifications were present at Meiktila?

[Cathartes]

I do like to demonize/rib my opponent a bit. [:D]  I don't think he's the type to shoot dolphins, but since it's a house rule in this AAR, and he can't always control his troops, it was an appropriate operation. 

Yubari: the fortifications in Meiktila were at most maybe a 1 or 2, I honestly don't recall. I doubt Chimaera-san could have done much to build up the forts in Meiktila even if he tried. Meiktila was a focal point for regular Allied air attacks. The base was perpetually bombed and strafed for nearly two years. I don't think the base was ever completely undamaged for any stretch.

Thanks for the comment by the way, but I wouldn't consider my achievement in Burma a great victory. By this juncture, as you realized in your own game, the Japanese defense in Burma is nearly untenable if the Allies want to take Rangoon. Allied air power is just too overwhelming by Fall 1943 for the Japanese to sustain meaningful air resistance. Once the Japanese concede or lose air superiority from Mandalay to Moulmein, they're done for. The Japanese troops were heavily pummeled by air since September 1943. I had 5 bases at level 4 or above, serving 400 2E and 4E bombers and 350+ single-engine ground-pounders. Even with weather "on", I managed to fly decent, hard-hitting mission 5 out of 7 days in Burma with so many aircraft flying from so many different bases. Disruption and attrition over the months played a meaningful role in eroding his defense. I never had to worry about CAP on any missions unless I was bombing Pisanaluke or Bangkok. In CHS I think Ramree Island and Akyab are two key bases for control of Burma. Chimaera-san never went for them and they were strategically critical for air superiority over Burma, and ultimately a back door invasion of Rangoon. Also, it was everything that I managed to defend and hold Mandalay early in the war.  I gambled in defending Mandalay early on at the expense of defending/losing India. But I saw so much invested in the Japanase push toward Mandalay, it didn't seem like too much of a gamble. Finally I paid a steep price in PP for Indian Army troops, which I could not use in Burma without paying PP as per house rules.

All this being said, my opponents' supply line is shrinking, his defense if further solidifying, and things just get increasingly more difficult and risky to take from here on out.

[AdmFletcher]

Very very fascinating AAR reports with excellent visuals. Congratulations for having played so many years and gotten this far without any Admirals quitting.

Plenty of land based and land based aerial action but clearly the carrier fleets are playing cat and mouse all over the oceans. It is January 1944 and not a single confrontation. Heaviest naval losses to date are only Allied light cruisers and some destroyers. Not a single heavy cruiser or bigger capital ship has been incapacitated (lucky Kaga and Warspite recently escaping this fate).


It will be very interesting when the titanic clash of carriers occurs and the tallying of capital ship tonnage that visits Davy Jones'.
 
Gentlemen, please keep up the excellent visuals of more confrontations (naval and land based) to the benefit of the entire WitP community.

[Cathartes]

Thanks for the comments AdmFletcher. We'll try and keep this one up periodically.

Dispatch Rangoon, February 27, 1944, SEAC Command:
Initial reports indicate that a massive fighter sweep over Bangkok has practically destroyed the Japanese fighter force protecting the airbase and City. The biggest US fighter sweep of the war, with elements of the 10th Air Force, consisting of over 250 P-38s, P-47s, and P-51s, shoot down roughly 80 Japanese fighters with the loss of 25 of our own. This is the second sweep in the last week. The previous sweep netted nearly 100 Japanese fighters with the loss of 37 Allied aircraft.

Japanese air assets have abandoned the skies above Bangkok. Base buildup in Rangoon continues, and regular bombing raids have begun, unescorted, over Bangkok.

[Cathartes]

March 1944:Situation Overview

SEAC
All is quiet here except for some occasional LBA raids on surrounding Japanese bases. Our Japanese friends have emptied all air bases of aircraft within fighter range of Rangoon. Rangoon is now a lvl 9 AF/8 Port. Japanese defenders remain defiant across the river in Moulmein. SEAC forces have yet to cross the river into Moulmein. Japanese troops are malarial, delusional, beat-up, and angry at the world. We can occasionally hear them hurl taunts and insults in poor English from across the Salween Delta. Chimaera-san would do well to teach them some manners.

China
All is quiet except for occasional Japanese training raids from Formosa against Wenchow and neary hexes occupied by Chinese forces. Occasionally the Allies will intercept and Chimaera-san has sent fighter escorts and sweeps ahead of his training aircraft at times. A recent Japanese sweep over Wenchow cost the Allies some aircraft in a LRCAP situation.

Kuriles
Static situation with the Allies holding on to two islands belonging to the Japanese Home Islands--P.Jima and Onn.Jima. Hokkaido is oddly vulneralbe to invasion, and though the Japanese have built up their bases, they have not heavily garrisoned the island. Perhaps a large force is lurking just beyond range of detection.

Central Pacific
Quiet. You could here a coconut fall on a distant atoll. 

South Pacific
The Japanese have been completely drive out of Luganville, Noumea and Koumac. The Allies now have a more direct sailing route to Australia. Meanwhile the Japanese are feverishly withdrawing units up and down the Solomons Chain and moving them to Rabaul and points north. The Allies have yet to invade anywhere within the Solomons.

Papau New Guinea
The Allies are now firmly in control of both sides of the Owen Stanley Range including Wau and Finschhafen. Corsairs, P-47s, and P-38s dominate the skies throughout the region except over Rabaul. Allied troops have landed at Lae but have yet to take the base. The last of the Japanese defenders were finally surrounded at Milne Bay, and this base is now built up to a level 4/3. Oddly the Japanese have offered little or no resistance in PNG. It's obvious this is part of Chimaera-san's outer defensive shell. He is wisely withdrawing and recoiling for a larger counterattack in an area where he can defend in depth, and offer a surprise attack from his carrier forces.

[Cathartes]

April 2, 1944: CIC Debrief

Mr. President, I have good news, we are beginning to turn the heat up on the Japanese across the Pacific.

Well, no sir. We haven’t made any decisive gains, but we do have them on the defensive!

Well, Lae is now in our hands, and Saidor has been invaded. We’ve destroyed a couple hundred IJA planes over Admiralty Island in just the last week. The airfields at Rabaul are damaged, and everything around the Owen Stanleys will soon be ours, barring any major Japanese counteroffensives or raids.

No, we’ve been putting off invading the Gilberts. It’s not recommended at this time, we are focusing on an offensive from the Kuriles. From here we can reach for the Emperor’s throat! This will be a decisive opportunity!

When? Well, we couldn’t say at this very moment, not everyone here has complete security clearance, after all, this is an open AAR.

What? Churchill hasn’t been in touch? Lord Mountbatten is now the Commander of the SEAC. The Royal Navy was not following orders and two CV TFs reacted to a large group of Japanese carriers off the coast of Victoria Point. Consequently one British CV, a CVL, and the HMS Renown were lost. The only consolation was that it cost the Japanese about 180 IJA and IJN aircraft combined.

No Mr. President, the Japanese escaped. They did not lose any capital ships.

The good news is that since Mountbatten’s command, the Allies have built up Rangoon to a level 9 airfield and port. A large army has crossed over to Moulmein and are now bombarding daily. Two US Divisions are involved in the Allied effort. On the downside, it looks like the British invasion may be driven out of Tavoy, and three Brigades will be isolated. On the upside their diversion in Tavoy will probably cost the Japanese Moulmein. Also, the Allies took Rahaeng by surprise with Indian paratroopers and have cut off Moulmein from the Bangkok road and rail network. It’s unknown how long these brave men can hold—there are many Japanese troops in Pisanaluke crossing over to Rahaeng.

I understand you are impatient with the progress in the Pacific, but there are a lot of supplies and men that have to be moved great distances.

Yes Mr. President, I will see if I can arrange a meeting with the Secretary of Navy and General MacArthur.

Yes Sir, I will have maps and charts at our next meeting!

[Cathartes]

April 3, 1944

As promised we brought our maps this time.

SEAC is where the action is. One of the largest and most decisive air battle of the war occurred over Tavoy. A convoy of AKs and APs carrying a British brigade was escorted by a large surface TF and British carriers. The carriers retired their escort duties and moved on, while the surface TF bombarded Tavoy. After this two large Japanese air strikes materialized. The first one is highlighted below on the map, and the second one flew from Victoria Point. The CV Unryu and at least three other fleet carriers were involved in this strike and they ran smack into some of the most experienced pilots in the theater. The second strike from Victoria Point brought 21 Georges, 18 P1Y Frances, and 19 KAIb Tonys. The results were similar, and all told, 190 Japanese aircraft were destroyed over Tavoy.

The background for this air battle is the tense ground campaign going on around the Siam/Burma border country. Tavoy has been invaded, and the Japanese have responded with a massive force, including several divisions, coming from Bangkok and Moulmein. Other Japanese units appear to be inbound based on intel. The invasion of Tavoy has been ongoing for the last couple of weeks and has diverted a number of powerful Japanese units that would otherwise be available in Moulmein or along the Bangkok-Moulmein road network. This has opened up some holes for further Allied attacks. Moulmein was invaded several days ago, and Rahaeng was assaulted by paratroopers a day or two later. Currently, the Allies enjoy a level 9 airbase in Rangoon, and maintain air superiority all the way to Bangkok.

A. After a naval bombardment, and the delivery of a seasoned British Brigade, the Japanese attack and achieve 0-1 odds. Just the day before they had attacked and achieved 3-1 odds. It’s unclear when and what additional Japanese units will arrive in this hex. The unadjusted AV for the Japanese is 1777 while the Allies have an unadjusted 526. Reports indicate that not all the Japanese attacked this turn as the maximum assault was only 413 and the adjusted assault was 38.

B. Several more units join the main Allied force in Moulmein, and are forced to shock attack in the process. The Allies get punched in the nose as expected, but with the forces in place our boys can bombard daily and inflict 700-800 casualties per day and can expect to destroying or disable 10-20 guns per day. Moulmein is a level 7 fort, and there are 27 units and 2000 AV behind the ramparts.

C. The Indian paratrooper brigade dropped on Rahaeng and no one was home. The Allies pile in the troops and have thus far endured two Japanese shock attacks. More Japanese units will probably cross the river from Pisanuloke in succeeding days and be forced to shock attack. A Japanese airborne unit has subsequently dropped on Rahaeng as troops cross the river.

D. Just for reference our intel has included the site of the first carrier vs carrier battle of the war, which occurred on March 23, 1944. Two British CV TFs reacted to a large assembly of Japanese CVs. Intel figured at least 6-8 enemy fleet carriers based on the fact that about 200 Zeros were encountered in the ensuing srikes. The British TF captains disobeyed orders and strayed from beneath LB CAP. FAA corsairs fought valiantly and downed dozens of enemy Zekes, but ultimately there numbers were too few to stem the onslaught. The BC Renown, CV Indomitable, and CVL Hermes were all sunk. One CL is moderately damaged, but escapes. At least 60 Zekes/Zeroes are shot down, and about 120 IJA fighters and bombers are also destroyed from earlier raids that thinned out our CAP. The British CVs responded with a large raid of FAA TBFs--unescorted. 175 Zekes on CAP destroy them all. Not a single Japanese CV is touched. Chimaera-san may be able to give more details from his perspective: a great victory for him.

[AdmFletcher]

A very interesting clash. Very different from reality, because historical CV clashes occurred over the Pacific, and not in the Burma region.

The Allied losses are not catastrophic because they were all British warship. BC Renown is a World War 1 vintage BC and CVL Hermes and CV Indomitable are British carriers with a smaller plane capacity than the US CVs. But a great victory for the Imperials, especially considering how late it is in the war (1944), how the tide was against then by 1944 in reality (after Midway) and how much damage they inflicted on the Royal Navy.

Congratulations to both the Imperialists and the Allies, for it was a fascinating and very well executed land and sea battle. Keep up the great work and reporting. [:D]